Off-axis illumination apparatus, exposure apparatus and off-axis illumination method

ABSTRACT

Provided are an off-axis illumination apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an off-axis illumination method. The off-axis illumination apparatus may include a mask, a light source for emitting light to the mask, and an incident angle varying section for varying an incident angle of the light. The exposure apparatus may include the off-axis illumination apparatus in addition to a wafer stage and an optical detector. The off-axis illumination method may include irradiating light from the light source to a mask, and moving positions of the light source and the mask to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask.

This U.S. nonprovisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application 2005-128891 filed on Dec. 23, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Example embodiments described herein relate to an exposure apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, example embodiments are directed to an off-axis illumination apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an off-axis illumination method capable of varying an off-axis angle to a mask.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, as the integration density of a semiconductor device increases, the dimensions of the device decrease. Various technologies have been developed for forming fine patterns on a wafer in a semiconductor exposure process, which are used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices.

A pattern formed through the semiconductor exposure process may be obtained by irradiating light, for example, a laser, to a mask having a pattern so that the light transmitted through the mask may be irradiated to a wafer through an optical system.

However, in order to form the pattern having a fine line width on a wafer, a high optical resolution is generally required. However, the optical resolution may be difficult to obtain.

Accordingly, technology is continuously being developed to improve optical resolution of semiconductor manufacturing devices, which may be used for semiconductor exposure processes. A conventional example of one these technologies is to employ an exposure apparatus using an off-axis illumination method as opposed to an illumination method. The conventional off-axis illumination method may provide an optical resolution about 1.5 times greater than a conventional illumination method. Further, a depth of focus associated with a conventional off-axis illumination method is generally better than the depth of focus of a conventional illumination method.

In addition, a conventional exposure apparatus may use a modified aperture, wherein a light transmission region is annular or dipole, instead of circular. By using a conventional exposure apparatus having a modified aperture and an associated method, a vertical axis of light irradiated to the aperture may be blocked, and only an oblique component (e.g., off-axis component) may be transmitted through the aperture to irradiate a mask. In this case, the light passes through light transmission regions having various sizes of the respective apertures to form different off-axis angles (e.g., an angle between an optical axis of the off-axis component and a vertical axis irradiated to the mask) of the light irradiated to a mask.

Therefore, the off-axis angle irradiated on the mask may be determined according to the shape of the light transmission regions of the apertures and the transmissivity of light passing through the mask, which may also be varied. Therefore, when the off-axis angle is varied to adjust rear transmissivity of the mask, the aperture should be changed to another aperture. Accordingly, it may be difficult to obtain uniform exposure of a wafer considering the variable rear transmissivity because the off-axis angle irradiated to the mask cannot be adjusted and thus, a desired amount of light may not be provided onto the wafer. Therefore, exposure pattern failures may occur on the wafer, which may cause product failures.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments described herein provide an off-axis illumination apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an off-axis illumination method for varying an incident angle of light entering a mask without using various apertures for providing light to the mask by forming a predetermined off-axis angle.

Example embodiments described herein provide an off-axis illumination apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an off-axis illumination method for varying an incident angle of light entering a mask when a plurality of opaque layers are formed in the mask, adjusting transmissivity of light transmitted through a rear surface of the mask, and therefore, controlling a critical dimension (CD) on a wafer.

An example embodiment of an off-axis illumination apparatus may include a mask stage on which a mask is mounted, a light source installed on the mask stage for emitting light to the mask, and an incident angle varying section for moving at least one of the light source and the mask stage to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask.

In one example embodiment, the incident angle varying component may include a first driver for rotating the mask stage to vary the incident angle of the light and a controller electrically connected to the first driver, wherein the controller controls the operation of the first driver such that the incident angle of the light is directed to a target angle.

In another example embodiment, the first driver may include a first motor connected to the mask stage, and a first encoder mounted on the first motor and detecting a rotation angle of the mask.

In still another example embodiment, the incident angle varying section may include a second driver for moving the light source to vary the incident angle of the light, and a controller electrically connected to the second driver, wherein the controller controls the operation of the second driver such that the incident angle of the light is directed to a predetermined incident angle.

In yet another example embodiment, the light source may include a fixture for fixing the light source to the mask stage and maintaining a distance between the light source and the mask stage.

In yet another example embodiment, the second driver may include a rotary shaft mounted at the fixture such that a distance between the light source and the mask is a radius of rotation, a second motor connected to the rotary shaft, and a second encoder mounted on the motor and detecting a rotation angle of the fixture.

In yet another example embodiment, the mask may include a transparent substrate formed of a transparent material, and a plurality of opaque layers disposed on the transparent substrate.

An example embodiment of an exposure apparatus may include a mask stage on which a mask is mounted; a wafer stage disposed at a lower part of the mask stage, detachable from the mask stage, and at which a wafer is mounted; a light source disposed above the mask and emitting light to the mask; and an incident angle varying section for moving at least one of the light source and the mask stage to vary the incident angle of the light to the mask.

In one example embodiment, the exposure apparatus may further include an optical detector installed under the mask stage, wherein the optical detector is detachable from the mask stage.

In another example embodiment, the incident angle varying section may include a first incident angle varying component and a second incident angle varying component, wherein the first incident angle varying component includes a first rotary shaft connected to the mask stage, a first motor connected to the first rotary shaft to provide power so that the mask stage is rotated to vary the incident angle of the light, and a first encoder mounted on the first motor and detecting a rotation angle of the mask stage, and wherein the second incident angle varying component includes a second rotary shaft connected to the light source, a second motor connected to the second rotary shaft, and a second encoder mounted on the second motor and detecting an rotation angle of the fixture.

In still another example embodiment, the incident angle varying section may be electrically connected to a controller, wherein the controller includes a selector for selecting at least one of the first incident angle varying component and the second incident angle varying component, controls the operation of the first motor such that the incident angle of the light is directed to a target and/or desired angle when the first incident angle varying component is selected by the selector, and controls the operation of the second motor such that the incident angle of the light is directed to a target and/or desired angle when the second incident angle varying section is selected by the selector.

An example embodiment of an off-axis illumination method may include irradiating light from a light source to a mask, and moving at lest one of the light source and the mask to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask.

In one example embodiment, the mask may include a plurality of opaque layers.

In another example embodiment, the method may further include setting the varied incident angle of the light in a controller as a desired and/or target angle before irradiating the light to the mask.

In still another example embodiment, the movement may rotate at least one of the light source and the mask.

In yet another example embodiment, the method may further include detecting the amount of the light transmitted through the mask, and optimally varying an incident angle of the light using the detected amount of light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of example embodiments described herein will be apparent from considering the following detailed description of example embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis is instead placed upon illustrating the principles taught by example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of an exposure apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state before a first incident angle varying component shown in FIG. 1 operates according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state after a first incident angle varying component shown in FIG. 1 operates according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state after a second incident angle varying component shown in FIG. 1 operates according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the operation of an incident angle varying component shown in FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which light is transmitted through a mask shown in FIG. 1 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of an off-axis illumination method.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example embodiment of an off-axis illumination method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments may, however, be in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another component, it can be directly on, connected to or coupled to the other component or intervening components may be present. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, there are no intervening components present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one component or feature's relationship to another component(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Reference will now be made to example embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like components throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of an exposure apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, an example embodiment of the exposure apparatus may include a mask stage 150, a light source 200, an optical detector 300, a fixture 400, a wafer stage 600, and an incident angle varying section 500 (see FIG. 5) including one or more incident angle varying components 510 and 520.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mask stage 150 of the exposure apparatus may support a mask 100 having a pattern (not shown) arranged on a lower surface thereof. The mask 100 may be mounted to the mask stage 150. A light source 200 may be arranged above the mask stage 150 and spaced apart from the mask stage 150 by a distance determined in part by the fixture 400. The light source 200 may irradiate light to the mask 100. An optical detector 300 may be disposed under the mask stage 150 and may be detachably mounted to the mask stage 150. The optical detector 300 may detect the amount of light transmitted through the mask 100. The optical detector 300 may be configured to move from a detecting position under the mask stage 150 to a second position allowing light transmitted through the mask 100 to expose a wafer W. A fixture 400 may be configured to support and/or fix the light source 200 in a desired and/or predetermined location. A wafer stage 600 may be located under the mask stage 150, and the wafer W may be mounted on the wafer stage 600. The wafer stage 600 may be configured to move relative to the mask stage 150, detector 300 and/or light source 200. An incident angle varying section 500 may be provided including one or more incident angle varying components 510 and 520 for moving a position of the mask stage 150 and/or the light source 200 to vary an incident angle of the light entering a mask 100, which may be arranged on the mask stage 150.

As shown in the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the light source 200 may be fixedly connected to the fixture 400 such that the light source 200 may be rotated about a central axis C of the mask stage 150. According to an example embodiment, the fixture 400 is not connected to the mask stage 150 and thus, is allowed to rotate separately from the mask stage 150 on which a mask 100 may be mounted.

The mask 100 may include a transparent substrate 110 formed of a transparent material, and a plurality of opaque layers 120, which may be uniformly disposed in the transparent substrate 110 and perpendicularly arranged relative to an upper surface of the transparent substrate 110. A lower surface of the mask 100 may have patterns.

Hereinafter, the construction of an example embodiment of an incident angle varying section 500 for varying an incident angle of light entering the mask 100 will be described.

The incident angle varying section 500 for varying an incident angle of light entering a mask 100 may include a first incident angle varying component 510, a second incident angle varying component 520, a controller 530 and a selector 540. The controller 530 may be electrically connected to the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520. The selector 540 may be electrically connected to the controller 530 and may select one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 to generate and transmit an electrical signal to the controller 530.

An example embodiment of a first incident angle varying component 510, which may be used to rotate the mask stage 150, is described below.

The first incident angle varying component 510 may include a first driver having a first rotary shaft 513 connected to the mask stage 150; a first motor 511 connected to the first rotary shaft 513; and a first encoder 512 mounted on the first motor 511 to detect a rotation angle of the mask stage 150. The controller 530 may be electrically connected to the first driver of the first incident angle varying component 510.

As shown in the example embodiment of FIG. 1, the first rotary shaft 513 is connected to the mask stage 150, which may rotate around a central axis C. As such, an upper surface of the mask 100 may be rotated around the central axis C. Accordingly, the mask stage 150 is rotatably supported by the first rotary shaft 513 and thus may be rotated in either direction from a state in which the surface of the mask stage is parallel to an opening of the light source 200. In this case, the state parallel to the light source 200 may refer a state in which the light entering the mask 100 is perpendicular to an upper surface of the mask 100. Thus, rotating the mask stage 150 using the first incident varying component 510 may vary the incident angle of the light entering the mask 100.

An example embodiment of a second incident angle varying component 520 for rotating the fixture 400 to rotate the light source 200 and thus, vary an incident angle of light entering the mask 100 is described below.

The second incident angle varying component 520 may include a second driver having a second rotary shaft 523 connected to the fixture 400; a second motor 521 connected to the second rotary shaft 523; and a second encoder 522 mounted on the second motor 521 to detect a rotation angle of the fixture 400. The controller 530 may be electrically connected to the second driver of the second incident angle varying component 520.

As shown in the example embodiment of FIG. 1, the second rotary shaft 523 may be connected to the fixture 400 and may be arranged on the same axis as the central axis C of the mask stage 150. Accordingly, the center of rotation of the fixture 400 may be a center of the mask stage 150 arranged on the central axis C. Therefore, a radius of rotation of the light source 200 may be a distance from the central axis C of the mask stage 150 to the light source 200. The fixture 400 may be rotated by the second incident angle varying component 520.

The first and second encoders 512 and 522 may be respectively mounted on the first and second motors 511 and 521 as described in more detail below.

The first and second encoders 512 and 522 may detect a rotation angle of the mask stage 150 and a rotation angle of the fixture 400, respectively. The first and second encoders 512 and 522 may be electrically connected to the controller 530 and may transmit the respective detected rotation angles to the controller 530 in the form of electrical signals.

Hereinafter, the controller 530 is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the operation of the incident angle varying section 500.

The controller 530 may set the incident angle of the light to a target incident angle θ. For example the target incident angle may be based on a user input. In an example embodiment, the incident angle θ may be an angle between a vertical axis, which may be perpendicular to an upper surface of the mask 100 arranged in an original state, and an optical path of the light entering the mask 100.

According to an example embodiment, the controller 530 may be electrically connected to the first and second motors 511 and 521 to drive the first and second motors 511 and 521 such that the incident angle of the light is set to the target incident angle θ. The first motor 511 and the second motor 521 may receive one or more drive signals from the controller 530 to rotate the first and second rotary shafts 513 and 523, respectively. The mask stage 150 and/or the fixture 400 may be rotated in response to the one or more drive signals.

In addition, the controller 530 may receive one or more signals selected the selector 540 from one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520. Therefore, the controller 530 may drive one of the first and second motors 511 and 521 in response to the signal selected by the selector 540.

According to an example embodiment, the controller 530 may be electrically connected to the optical detector 300. The optical detector 300 may detect the amount of light transmitted through the mask 100 and may transmit the detected amount of light to the controller 530 as an electrical signal.

According to this example embodiment, a target amount of light may be preset and the controller 530 may compare the amount of light detected by the optical detector 300 with the target amount of light. Further, the controller 530 may operate the incident angle varying section 500 so that the detected amount of light is equal to the target amount of light.

Moreover, the controller 530 may be electrically connected to a display 550, which may visually display the amount of light detected from the optical detector 300, the rotation angle of the mask stage 150 transmitted from the first encoder 512 and/or the rotation angle of the fixture 400 transmitted from the second encoder 522. As a result, an operator may visually confirm through the display 550 whether the incident angle of the light entering the mask 100 is equal to the target incident angle θ and that the transmitted amount of light is equal to the target amount of light.

Hereinafter, an operation and effect of an exposure apparatus in accordance with an example embodiment is described.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example state before the first incident angle varying component 510 shown in FIG. 1 operates, and FIG. 3 is a view showing an example state after the first incident angle varying component 510 shown in FIG. 1 operates.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixture 400 and the mask stage 150 are shown in an initial state e.g., a state before the fixture 400 and/or the mask stage 150 is rotated. For example, a rotation angle detected from the first and second encoders 512 and 522 of the first and second motors 511 and 521 may be 0° in the initial state. In this example, if the rotation angle detected from the first and second encoders 512 and 522 is 0° as shown in FIG. 2, an optical path of the light entering the mask 100 is perpendicular to an upper surface of the mask 100.

As previously indicated opaque layers 120 may be disposed in a body 110 of the mask 100. The opaque layers 120 may be uniformly arranged and have a certain spacing interval. In this case, the amount of light entered from the light source 200 and transmitted through a rear surface of the mask 100 may be varied by the interval of the opaque layers 120, thereby controlling a critical dimension (CD) formed on a wafer (not shown).

Further, a target incident angle θ of the light may be set in the controller 530. According to an example embodiment, the target incident angle θ set in the controller 530 may be input as an specified angle or may be calculated based on input information including, for example, information related to modified apertures and/or information regarding the spacing of the opaque layers 120 of the mask 100, which may be input into the controller 530, which is described below.

The light source 200 may perpendicularly irradiate light to the mask 100 disposed thereunder. The light vertically entering an upper surface of the mask 100 may be transmitted through a rear surface of the mask 100. In the example shown in FIG. 2, rotation angles of the mask stage 150 and the fixture 400 detected by the first and second encoders 512 and 522 may be 0°.

Then, the selector 540 may select one of the first incident angle varying component 510 and the second incident angle varying component 520.

Accordingly, the controller 530 may receive an electrical signal of one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 selected by the selector 540. For example, the selector 540 may be an input device (not shown) configured to select one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 in response to an operator pushing a button (not shown) corresponding to one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an example in which the first incident angle varying component 510 is selected by the selector 540 is described.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example state after the first incident angle varying component 510 shown in FIG. 1 operates to rotate the mask stage 150.

The selector 540 may transmit an information signal on the selection of the first incident angle varying component 510 to the controller 530 as an electrical signal.

Referring to FIG. 3, after receiving the information signal, the controller 530 may transmit a drive signal to the first motor 511. Then, the motor 511 may rotate the first rotary shaft 513 in a direction of an arrow shown in FIG. 3 in response to the drive signal. That is, the mask stage 150 connected to the first rotary shaft 513 may be rotated from an initial state to a second state shown in FIG. 3.

The first encoder 513 mounted on the first motor 511 may transmit information on a detected rotation angle of the mask stage 150 to the controller 530 in situ.

In addition, the controller 530 may determine whether the detected rotation angle corresponds to the target incident angle θ, which may be set by the controller and may take into consideration the various input information including, for example, the spacing of the opaque layers 120 in the mask 100.

When the detected rotation angle corresponds to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 may transmit a drive stop signal to the first motor 511 to stop the rotation of the mask stage 150.

As the mask stage 150 rotates, an incident angle of light between an optical path of the light emitted from the light source 200 and a vertical axis of the upper surface of the mask 100 may be used to determine the target incident angle θ.

Therefore, it is possible to easily control the off-axis illumination angle relative to the mask 100, without using various shapes of apertures (not shown) to form an off-axis illumination angle as is done in some conventional technologies.

As previously indicated, the transmissivity of light passing through the rear surface of the mask 100 may differ according to the interval between the opaque layers 120 formed in the mask 100. That is, when the off-axis light is blocked by of the opaque layers 120, since the incident light having the off-axis angle smaller or larger than the target incident angle θ cannot transmit through the mask 100, the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be smaller than a case in which the opaque layers do not block the off-axis light.

If the off-axis light partially blocked by the opaque layers 120 of the mask 100 is transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100, it may be difficult to readily control a CD of the wafer.

As such, according to an example embodiment, a target incident angle θ may be set in the controller 530 according to the interval of the opaque layers 120, and the incident angle of the light may be adjusted to the target incident angle θ using the incident angle varying section 500.

That is, if the incidence angle of the light incident on the mask 100 is different from the optimal off-axis angle associated with the interval of the opaque layers 120 of the mask 100, the opaque layers may partially block the light and thus, the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be decreased. Therefore, when the mask stage 150 is rotated to make the incident angle of the light equal to the target incident angle θ, the off-axis light transmitted through the mask 100 can be directed to have a uniform amount of light, without being interfered with by the opaque layers 120.

Hereinafter, an example, wherein the second incident angle varying component 520 is selected by the selector 540 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example state after the second incident angle varying component 520 shown in FIG. 1 operates.

When the second incident angle varying component 520 is selected, the light source 200 may be rotated such that the incident angle of the light is equal to the target incident angle θ.

The target incident angle θ may be set in the controller 530. The controller 530 may transmit a drive signal to the second motor 521 such that the incident angle of the light entering the mask 100 may be adjusted to the target incident angle θ set in the controller 530. In response to the drive signal, the second motor 521 may rotate the second rotary shaft 523, thereby rotating the fixture 400 in a desired direction.

In an example embodiment, the radius of rotation of the fixture 400 is the distance between the central axis C of the mask stage 150 and the light source 200, and the center of rotation of the light source 200 is the central axis C of the mask stage 150. Therefore, the light source 200 may rotate about the central axis C.

That is, the light source 200 rotating according to a rotational path of the light source 200 may be inclined with respect to an upper surface of the mask 100. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 200 may be obliquely incident on the mask 100.

As described above, the second encoder 522 may be mounted on the second motor 521 and may detect a rotation angle of the fixture 400 rotated by the second motor 521. Accordingly, the rotation angle may be an angle between an optical path of the light emitted from the light source 200 and an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the mask 100.

Then, the second encoder 522 may transmit the rotation angle of the fixture 400 detected as described above to the controller 530 as an electrical signal.

After receiving the rotation angle of the rotated fixture 400 from the second encoder 522, the controller 530 may determine whether the detected rotation angle corresponds to the target incident angle θ.

If the detected rotation angle does not correspond to the target incident angle θ, the fixture 400 may be continuously rotated by the second motor 521 until the detected rotation angle corresponds to the target incident angle θ. When the detected rotation angle corresponds to the target incident angle θ, the second motor 521 may be stopped by the controller 530.

In this case, the off-axis light may be substantially entirely transmitted through the mask 100 because the target angle has been set according to the interval of the opaque layers 120 of the mask 100, i.e., the light may be obliquely incident on the mask 100 to pass through the mask 100 without interference from the opaque layers 120.

If the incident angle of the light is not equal to the target incident angle θ, the light obliquely incident on the mask 100 may be partially interfered with by the opaque layers 120, and the transmissivity of the light passing through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be decreased.

As described above, if the interval of the opaque layers 120 formed in the mask 100 become larger or smaller, the mask stage 150 and/or the fixture 400 may be rotated to a new angle corresponding with the target incident angle using the incident angle varying section 500 to adjust the off-axis angle so that the transmissivity of the light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be controlled and the CD of the wafer may be controlled.

Hereinafter, the target incident angle θ set in the controller 530 will be described.

According to an example embodiment, the target incident angle θ may be determined considering a modified aperture (not shown). For example, the modified aperture may be classified according to shapes of a light transmission hole. For example the shape of the light transmission hole may be circular, annular, dipole, cross pole, hexapole, etc.

In addition, each of the apertures may have an off-axis angle to the mask 100, which may be based on the shape of the light transmission hole. The off-axis angle of each of the modified apertures may be generally proportional to a radius σ of the light transmission hole and a numerical aperture (NA) of a lens.

Therefore, a modified aperture may be determined according to the radius of the light transmission hole and the numerical aperture of a lens. For example, the modified aperture including the light transmission hole having an annular shape may have a radius of 0.5˜0.6.

According to an example embodiment, an input device for inputting information may be electrically connected to the controller 530, and formula information for calculating the off-axis angle according to the input information may be stored in the controller 530. Therefore, if the input information includes, for example, a numerical aperture (NA) of the lens and a radius 0 of the light transmission hole, this information may be considered in determining the target incident angle θ according to an example embodiment. The controller 530 may calculate the target incident angle θ based at least in part on this input information.

According to this example embodiment, the controller 530 may rotate the mask stage 150 and/or the fixture 400 such that the incident angle of the light is equal to the target incident angle θ, which may be calculated using the input information.

Further, it is possible to adjust the off-axis angle by only rotating the mask stage 150 or the fixture 400 such that the light transmission hole has a circular, dipole, cross pole, or hexapole shape, in addition to the annular shape described above.

That is, by rotating at least one of the mask stage 150 and the fixture 400, the off-axis angle to the mask 100 may be adjusted without using a conventional modified aperture, and the transmissivity of the light passing through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be adjusted.

According to an example embodiment, when the light emitted from the light source 200 is obliquely incident on the mask 100 and transmitted, a desired off-axis angle may correspond to the target incident angle θ. However, when the target incident angle θ is set in the controller 530, it is preferable to consider the refractivity of light according to a material of the mask 100 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of light transmitted through the mask shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, the light emitted from the light source 200 may be irradiated to an upper surface of the mask 100, which has been rotated such that the irradiated light is not perpendicular to the upper surface of the mask 100. Accordingly, the irradiated light is refracted at an angle, which may be different from the target incident angle θ. Accordingly, when the target incident angle θ is set, the effects on an incident angle of the light at both interfaces of the mask 100 should be considered.

According to an example embodiment, after adjusting an off-axis condition relating to the mask 100 at an angle through the operation of the incident angle varying section 500, the optical detector 300 may be removed from under the mask stage 150. Accordingly, a wafer stage 600 may then be disposed under the mask stage 150, and the light transmitted through the mask 100 may be irradiated to a wafer W mounted on the wafer stage 600, thereby forming a desired pattern on the wafer W.

In an example embodiment, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, it is possible to set a target amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 using the controller 530. As previously indicated, the optical detector 300 may detect the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 and may transmit the detected amount of light to the controller 530 as an electrical signal. The controller 530 may determine whether the target amount of light is equal to the detected amount of light.

If the detected amount of light is equal to the target amount of light, the wafer stage 600 may be disposed under the mask stage 150 to perform an exposure process on the wafer W.

However, if the detected amount of light is not equal to the target amount of light, the controller 530 may operate the incident angle varying section 500. The operation of the incident angle varying section 500 was described above and thus, the details of this operation are not repeated.

The controller 530 may operate the incident angle varying section to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask 100 until the detected amount of light is equal to the target amount of light, thereby providing an optimal off-axis angle to the mask.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of an off-axis illumination method.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the off-axis illumination method may include irradiating light from a light source 200 to a mask 100 using the off-axis illumination apparatus and/or the exposure apparatus, and rotating the mask stage 150 and/or the light source 200 to adjust an incident angle of light entering the mask 100, thereby adjusting the transmissivity of light transmitted through a rear surface of the mask 100.

An interval between opaque layers 120 disposed in the mask 100 may be set (S100). As previously indicated, the transmissivity of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 may vary depending on the intervals of the opaque layers 120, and therefore, the off-axis angle of the light entering the mask 100 may be determined considering the intervals of the opaque layers 120.

Then, a target incident angle θ may be set in the controller 530 (S200). The target incident angle θ may be an angle between an axis normal to the upper surface of the mask 100 and an optical path emitted from the light source 200.

An aperture having a light transmission hole may be disposed between the mask 100 and the light source 200. The light emitted from the light source 200 may be obliquely incident on the mask 100 and transmitted through the light transmission hole to form an off-axis angle according to the target incident angle θ set in the controller 530. According to an example embodiment, because at least one of the mask stage 150 and light source 200 may be rotated, it is possible to form the off-axis angle without using a modified aperture inducing formation of the off-axis angle.

According to an example embodiment, because the light transmission hole may have various shapes such as a circular shape, an annular shape, a cross pole shape, a hexapole shape, etc., and the off-axis angles may differ according to the shape of the light transmission holes, the off-axis angle corresponding to the light transmission hole may be considered by the controller 530 when the target incident angle θ is calculated and/or set.

Then, the controller 530 may receive electrical signals of rotation angles of the mask stage 150 and the fixture 400 detected by the first and second encoders 512 and 522 electrically connected to the controller 530 to transmit drive signals to the first and second motors 511 and 521 such that each rotation angle is 0° and the mask stage 150 and the fixture 400 are located in their original positions.

As described above, after setting the target incident angle θ in the controller 530 and locating the mask stage 150 and the fixture 400 at their original positions, the light source 200 may emit the light vertically entering the mask 100 (S300).

Then, when the light vertically enters the mask 100, the controller 530 receives an electrical signal from one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 selected by the selector 540.

The controller 530 may operate one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 according to the selected signal (S400). That is, by rotating the mask stage 150 and/or the light source 200, the incident angle may be adjusted as described above. In this case, a method of adjusting the incident angle may include one of rotating the mask stage 150 using the first incident angle varying component 510 and rotating the light source 200 using the second incident angle varying component 520. The selector 540 may select one of the first and second incident angle varying components 510 and 520 to transmit the selected signal to the controller 530 as an electrical signal.

First, a method of selecting the first incident angle varying component 510 through the selector 540 to adjust an incident angle of the light entering the mask 100 is described.

After receiving the signal from the first incident angle varying component 510 selected by the selector 540, the controller 530 may transmit a drive signal to the first motor 511. In response to the drive signal, the first motor 511 may rotate the first rotary shaft 513. The mask 100 connected to the first rotary shaft 513 may be rotated around a central axis C of the mask stage 150 in a predetermined direction.

In this case, the off-axis light entering the mask 100 enters between the opaque layers 120 of the mask 100 to transmit through the rear surface of the mask 100. Simultaneously, the first encoder 512 mounted on the first motor 511 detects a rotation angle of the rotated mask 100 in situ to transmit the rotation angle to the controller 530. The rotation angle may be equal to the rotation angle of the mask stage 150.

The controller 530 may determine whether the rotation angle detected by the first encoder 512 corresponds and/or is equal to the target incident angle θ (S500).

If the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 may transmit an electrical signal to the first motor 511 to stop the first motor 511. That is, the first incident angle varying component 510 is stopped (S600). Therefore, the mask stage 150 may be rotated to make the rotation angle of the mask stage 150 equal to the target incident angle θ. At the target incident angle θ, the light may be obliquely incident on the mask 100.

However, if the rotation angle is not equal to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 continuously transmits drive signals to the first motor 511 to continue rotating the mask stage 150. At this time, the first encoder 512 detects a rotation angle of the rotated mask 100 in situ to transmit the rotation angle to the controller 530, and the controller 530 may rotate the mask stage 150 until the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ. Then, when the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 stops the rotation of the mask stage 150.

Second, a method of selecting the second incident angle varying component 520 through the selector 540 to adjust an incident angle of light entering the mask 100 is described.

The method of selecting the second incident angle varying component 520 is the same as the method of selecting the first incident angle varying component 510, except that the light source 200 is rotated instead of the mask stage 150.

Therefore, a method of rotating the light source 200 is described below.

In particular, the controller 530 may transmit a drive signal to the second motor 521, and the second motor 521 may rotate the second rotary shaft 523. Therefore, the fixture 400 connected to the second rotary shaft 523 may be rotated.

In this case, since the fixture 400 can fix the light source 200, and the center of rotation of the fixture may be disposed on the same line as the central axis C of the mask stage 150, the light source 200 may be rotated by rotating the fixture 400. The mask stage 150 connected to the first rotary shaft 513 are maintained in an original position.

The fixture 400 may be rotated by the second rotary shaft 523 as described above and thus, the light source 200 connected to the fixture 400 is rotated.

A rotation angle of the rotated light source 200 may be detected by the second encoder 522 mounted on the second motor 521, and the second encoder 522 may transmit the detected rotation angle to the controller 530 as an electrical signal.

Further, the controller 530 may determine whether the rotation angle of the fixture detected by the second encoder 522 is equal or corresponds to the target incident angle θ (S500).

If the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 may transmit an electrical signal to the second motor 521 to stop the motor 521. That is, the second incident angle varying component 520 may be stopped. Therefore, the light source 200 may be rotated to make the rotation angle of the light source equal to the target incident angle θ. Therefore, according to an example embodiment, it is possible to make the light obliquely incident on the mask 100 by rotating only the fixture 400 for fixing the light source 200, without using an annular-shaped aperture.

However, if the rotation angle is not equal to the target incident angle θ, the controller 530 may continuously transmit drive signals to the second motor 521 to rotate the fixture 400. The second encoder 522 may detect a rotation angle of the rotated fixture 400 in situ to transmit the rotation angle to the controller 530, and the controller 530 may rotate the fixture 400 until the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ. Then, the controller 530 may stop the rotation of the fixture 400 when the rotation angle is equal to the target incident angle θ (S600).

According to an example embodiment, an off-axis angle formed by modified apertures having a light transmission hole of a circular shape, s cross pole shape, a hexapole shape, etc., may be considered in the controller 530 before setting the target incident angle θ, so that it is possible to adjust various incident angles by rotating only the fixture 400 or light source 200 without using the varying and/or modifying the apertures.

In addition, while intervals of the opaque layers 120 disposed in the mask 100 may vary, an example embodiment may compensate for the variations by adjusting the incident angle to the mask 100 by rotating the fixture 400 and/or light source 200.

Therefore, the light obliquely incident on the mask is not interfered with by the opaque layers 120 so that a CD of a wafer can be controlled to adjust the transmissivity of light transmitted through a rear surface of the mask 100.

According to an example embodiment, the optical detector 300 may detect the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 and transmits the amount of light to the controller 530 (S700).

Therefore, the incident angle adjusted as described above may be adjusted according to the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an off-axis illumination method according to another embodiment in which a target amount of light is set and used by the controller 530.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 8, the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 may be preset in the controller 530 as a target amount of light (S10). The optical detector 300 may detect the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 to transmit the detected amount of light to the controller 530 as an electrical signal (S20).

Then, the controller 530 may determine whether the target amount of light is equal to the detected amount of light (S30).

If the detected amount of light is equal to the target amount of light, the wafer stage 600 may be disposed under the mask stage 150 to perform an exposure process to a wafer W (S40).

However, if the detected amount of light is not equal to the target amount of light, the controller 530 may operate an incident angle varying section 500 (S50). The incident angle varying section 500 may operate as described above and thus, this operation will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

The optical detector 300 may measure the amount of light transmitted through the rear surface of the mask 100 (S60).

The controller 530 may determine whether the measured amount of light is equal to the target amount of light (S70).

Therefore, the controller 530 may operate the incident angle varying section 500 to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask 100 until the detected amount of light is equal to the target amount of light (S70), thereby providing an optimal off-axis angle to the mask.

Therefore, according to example embodiments, it is possible to detect the amount of light transmitted through the mask 100 and vary an incident angle of the light using the detected amount of light to provide an optimal angle.

While example embodiment have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed example embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modification within the spirit and the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the appended claims. 

1. An off-axis illumination apparatus comprising: a mask stage configured to support a mask mounted to the mask stage; a light source configured to emit light to the mask; and an incident angle varying section configured to move at least one of the light source and the mask stage to vary an incident angle of the light on the mask.
 2. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incident angle varying section comprises a driver for rotating the mask stage to vary the incident angle of the light, and a controller electrically connected to the driver, the controller controlling an operation of the driver such that the incident angle of the light becomes equal to a target angle.
 3. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driver comprises a motor connected to the mask stage, and an encoder mounted on the motor to detect a rotation angle of the mask stage.
 4. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incident angle varying section comprises a driver for moving the light source to vary the incident angle of the light, and a controller electrically connected to the driver, the controller controlling an operation of the driver such that the incident angle of the light becomes equal to a target angle.
 5. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a fixture connecting the light source to the mask stage and maintaining a distance between the light source and the mask stage.
 6. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the driver comprises a rotary shaft mounted to the fixture such that the distance between the light source and the mask stage is a radius of rotation, a motor connected to the rotary shaft, and an encoder mounted on the second motor and detecting a rotation angle of the fixture.
 7. The off-axis illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask comprises a transparent substrate formed of a transparent material, and a plurality of opaque layers disposed on the transparent substrate.
 8. An exposure apparatus comprising: the off-axis illumination apparatus of claim 1; and a wafer stage configured to support a wafer and arranged under the mask stage, wherein the light source is arranged above the mask.
 9. The exposure apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an optical detector configured to detect light transmitted through the mask.
 10. The exposure apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical detector is configured to move from a detecting position under the mask stage to a second position allowing light transmitted through the mask to expose the wafer.
 11. The exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the incident angle varying section comprises: a first incident angle varying component including a first rotary shaft connected to the mask stage, a first motor connected to the first rotary shaft to rotate the rotary shaft and the mask stage to vary the incident angle of the light, and a first encoder mounted on the first motor and detecting a rotation angle of the mask stage; and a second incident angle varying component including a second rotary shaft connected to the light source, a fixture connecting the second rotary shaft to the light source, a second motor connected to the second rotary shaft, and a second encoder mounted on the second motor and detecting an rotation angle of the fixture, wherein the fixture connects the light source and the mask stage and maintains a distance between the mask stage and the light source.
 12. The exposure apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the incident angle varying section is electrically connected to a controller having a selector for selecting at least one of the first incident angle varying component and the second incident angle varying component, the controller controlling an operation of the first motor such that the incident angle of the light is equal to a angle when the first incident angle varying component is selected by the selector, and an operation of the second motor such that the incident angle of the light is equal to the target angle when the second incident angle varying component is selected by the selector.
 13. The exposure apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the mask comprises a transparent substrate formed of a transparent material, and a plurality of opaque layers disposed on the transparent substrate.
 14. An off-axis illumination method comprising: irradiating light from a light source to a mask; and varying an incident angle of the light to the mask by moving at least one of the light source and the mask.
 15. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 14, wherein the mask comprises a plurality of opaque layers.
 16. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 15, further comprising: setting a target incident angle of the light in a controller prior to varying the incident angle.
 17. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 16, wherein the incident angle of the light is varied until the incident angle corresponds to the target incident angle.
 18. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 14, wherein varying the incident angle includes rotating the mask.
 19. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 14, wherein varying the incident angle includes rotating the light source.
 20. The off-axis illumination method according to claim 14, further comprising: detecting the amount of light transmitted through the mask, and wherein the varying the incident angle of the light is based on the detected amount of light. 